My Hockey Alpha

Nina

I caught up with the team in the middle of the athletic field. They were stretching for their run. I tried not to look at Enzo as he stretched, because watching his muscular form only made me want him more. Regardless of what Tiffany said about her college love, I still felt hesitant about Enzo with everything that had happened since I met him. Besides, I had to focus on school and work. Now was not the time to be worrying about boys!

The team looked up when I joined them on the athletic field as they stretched. Feeling a bit nervous, I started to stretch, too; most of them seemed P excited that a girl was joining them on their run today — including Justin — but apparently my presence bothered one player. His name was Bryan. “You’re running with us?” he asked, standing up from his stretch.

“I suppose so,” I replied with a sheepish nod.

Bryan frowned and folded his arms across his chest.

“You’re not gonna slow us down, are you? Everyone knows girls can’t run as fast as guys.”

Before I had the chance to respond,

Justin stepped in at the same time and defended me.

“Hey, don’t say that about her!” Justin said, balling his fists up at his sides.

Meanwhile, Enzo simply stormed up to Bryan and glared down at him. Bryan wasn’t a small guy in the slightest, but Enzo still towered over him and made. him look dwarfed.

“How dare you be so rude to our team doctor,” he said, his low voice practically a growl. “Just for that, you can drop and give me fifty push-ups. Right now,”

“Fifty?” Bryan whined.

hundred if you keep up the attitude,” Enzo

on the ground

has a problem with Nina joining us on our run today, speak now,” Enzo said. No one made a peep. ” Alright,” he continued, “let’s go. Bryan, catch up when you’re

himself, as the team started running. I bit my

our way toward the line of trees that sat at the end of the field. There was a small trail that broke through the trees, which made its way through the forest. There were a lot of these trails all around campus for students to hike on — and while I was a bit nervous that there could be another shifter out in the woods, Enzo didn’t seem terribly worried about it. His

the group, just like how he ran that day on the treadmill. Back then, I had been

running over small hills and jumping over fallen trees. Somehow, although I hadn’t run like this since high school PE class, I eventually found myself running at the front of the group with Enzo and Justin while the rest of the team

a little bit to match my pace so he could run beside me. “You run like a natural. Did

I’ve never really been sporty at all. My parents made me play on the junior tennis team for one semester in middle school, but

up on my other side. I looked over at him and saw him shoot a competitive glance at Enzo,

bit uncomfortable now as I was sandwiched between two guys who I

other teammates, Matt, called from behind us. “We should race. Nina

Justin blurted out, stopping. Enzo stopped as well. There was a slight frown on his face,

Enzo said

I don’t-” I replied, but was suddenly cut

said. “Sort of like old times.

the rest of the team started chanting for us to race,

my hands up in

line in the dirt with his foot, standing behind it poised to run. “From here to that tree,” he said, pointing at a tree several